A study published in the British Journal of Surgery has proven the benefits of music in surgical procedures.
The research, which lasted 36 years, between 1980 and 2016, examined more than 7,000 patients, seeking the relationship between music and combating pain and anxiety. The Dutch researchers analyzed more than 80 random songs before, during, and after invasive surgeries.
Those who listened to music experienced a reduction in their pain and anxiety levels. The phenomenon was most effective on anxiety when the patient listened to music before the operation, while pain dissipated more when the music was listened to after the procedure. It is also noted that the effects were slightly better when the patient chose the music, rather than the surgeon or researchers.
"Besides individual preferences for certain types of music, specific characteristics such as rhythm and harmony, as well as the use of stringed instruments, also appear to be important in reducing pain and anxiety," the scientists stated.
In short, "the lower rates are independent of the type of surgery, the patient's age or gender, and when the music was listened to," explains the Gizmodo . "In the control group, there was a 21-point drop in anxiety and a 10-point drop in pain."
“The result allows for the possibility of implementing musical guidelines and interventions on surgical procedures,” states Dr. Rosalie Kühlmann, lead author and pediatric surgeon at Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital in the Netherlands.
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